Vol. 17, Issue 213
“Dedicated to Excellence”
Social’s Lunch at Co:Here
Chair SOCIAL’s LunchExercises at Co:Here
led by Jeanie
(Britannia’s AML Lounge)
Birthday in October… Our “Chef” Katelyn
October 2018
Vol. 17, Issue 213
October 2018
Letters to the Editor…
DID YOU KNOW?
Letters to the Editor:
million each year on Hallowe’en: $200 million of it for sweets to give out at the door and the remainder on costumes, decorations and cards.
Thank you for excellent newsletter. I bet it is the best newsletter, compared to other groups, plus people contributed over summer, too, while other groups cut back on communication.
I was especially impressed by the review given by Ray MacDonald re: aqua therapy. —Sue Chalmers Stroke Survivor North Vancouver
DID YOU KNOW?
One-fifth of all the fresh water in the world lies four of the Great Lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. All the outflow from these four lakes pours into the Niagara River and over the falls, eventually emptying into Lake Ontario.
“SPEAKEASY”
Canada by any other name…
A shop or nightclub that sold illegal liquor during Prohibition. That name reflected the way people passed on information about their location in low tones to avoid being overheard by police. The term was likely derived from the 19th-century British “speak softly” shops that sold contraband goods.
But, Canada wasn’t the only name for this country. Aren’t you glad that we don’t live in (list of losers): Tuponia (an acronym for the The United Provinces of North America) or sing “O Efsiga” (a made-up word created from the first letters of England, France, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Aboriginal)???
STROKE RECOVERER’s Review Mailing Address: #105 - 1717 Adanac Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 4Y9 Canada Published every month, if possible. Contributions are always welcome. The articles should be in, not later than day 25th day of every month. Disclaimer: The views expressed in Stroke Recoverer’s Review newsletter: articles, submissions and spotlights are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of this newsletter or the editor of Stroke Recoverer’s Review. Editor reserves the right at any time to make changes as it deems necessary. It is the purpose of this periodical to share a variety of viewpoints mostly from stroke survivors October 2018 Sue Chalmers Deb Chow Jose Suganob
Production of SRR Jose Suganob
DID YOU KNOW?
The Klondike Gold Rush lasted only 18 months. A three-kilometers stretch of one tributary alone, Eldorado Creek, produced over $30 million worth of gold during the height of the Klondike rush. It is known as the richest gold creek find in the world. SPOOKY SPENDING...
Hallowe’en is the second biggest holiday of the year in Canada (after Christmas) in terms of retail sales . With 85 percent of the population participating, we spend over $800
BLAST DINNER
Stroke Survivors, Caregivers, and Friends! Come, join us for dinner! November 15th, 2018 (Thur)
Inside this issue:
Letters to the Editor
2
Did You Know? Happenings Around Us…
3
BLAST 2019 ...More… Nice Compliment...
4
Jokes
5
Dinner starts at 5:00 pm Trocadero’s 2411 Nanaimo St, Vancouver, BC (North of Broadway & Nanaimo St.)
Page 2
Vol. 17, Issue 213
October 2018
Happenings Around Us… Get In The Halloween Spirit...
The season for spooky ghosts and creepy ghouls is finally upon us, folks! If you need a little nudge to get you ready to jump into your finest costume. Like the Multicultural Seniors Singers did! This Halloween season we sang on three care homes... Our director, Bob P. dressed as farmer John; May, our pianist, as Queen Elizabeth II, complete with crown and gown, and royal wave... One of Halloween songs we sang was ‘My sister, my brother, and Me’ and portrayed as ‘witch’ sister (Joan-South Korean), ‘skeleton’ brother (Vincent— Taiwanese), Me-ghost (Paulette– French Canadian). Most of our members also in costume: hippies, Zorro, policeman, many witches… Actually , there’s not many adult Halloween songs. So, our director, Bob used children Halloween song with different words adults can understand. The first song we sang was ‘Let Us Sing Together’ so that some or all audience will sing with us…. List of Halloween songs we sang: 1. My Sister, My Brother, and Me 2. It’s Halloween 3. Skeletons 4. Pumpkins 5. Black Cat 6. Trick or Treat 7. 10 Ghosts 8. Haunted House 9. For The Parents 10. Black and Gold 11. Halloween 12. Halloween is Almost Here
Our last song will always be: Our Best To You— Our best to you May your dreams come through May old father time Never be unkind And through the years, Save your smiles and tears They are souvenirs They’ll make music in your heart Remember this Each new day’s a kiss Sent from up above With an angels love So here’s to you May your dreams come true And your life blessed That’s our best to you —Shared by Jose Suganob Stroke Survivor/Social
pair of contraptions that could produce a wave and could be installed into the Royal vehicle. The hands were finally presented , and they were perfect, the problem was that the mechanical aspect was much more problematic than had been initially conceived, both in terms of it’s movement having an unnatural appearance, it’s size, and the fact that it was unreliable. The device changed the type of wave to a side to side movement that we are now familiar with, but at the time seemed very odd. This meant the Royal Family would have to learn to adopt that same wave as thte mechanical hand, and so the Regal wave was born.
Subsequent generations of royals grew up perfecting this wave from a very early age and Elizabeth II was no exception.
ROYAL FAMILY REGAL WAVE…
King George V and his wife Queen Mary were very enthusiastic wavers, but after his Coronations, both Queen Mary and King wound up with repetitive strain injury (RSI) .
The official story is that a To Harley St Specialist was consulted who immediately set about conducting experiments into which type of wave could be invented in order to avoid RSI, and so what the late Queen Mother referred to as the ‘opening a jam jar’ wave was perfected and been a very closely guarded secret of the royal family for over 100 years. Top secret plan was drawn up involving specially commissioned Wax hands from Madame Tussauds and a
“Life laughs at you when you are unhappy. Life smiles at you when you are happy. But, life salutes you you make others happy.” —Charlie Chaplin Do something amazing… Make someone smile!!! BOOTLEGGING…
Bootlegging, this term refers to the illegal sale of alcohol originated from pirate smugglers’ practice of concealing bottles in their boots. Page 3
Vol. 17, Issue 213
October 2018
BLAST 2019...and more...
I have to make good and keep my promise to be on time this month. Jose has been very patient reminding me and waiting for me to pound something out.
medicine, and research to see how noon to 3 pm. important it is for us, and how good we Last 15th dinner at Trocaderos, are for each other. Supporting and creatSaturday, Dec. 15th, 2018. ing groups of survivors would save so much money. The cost is minimal in comparison to actual therapy. It’s pretty —Deb Chow, BLAST simple to go from BLAST to BLISS. deb@turtletalk.ca It’s an exciting time for me, beginning Building Life After Stroke Together 2 604-253-8665 after 11 am the first steps towards BLAST 2019. Better Life In Stroke Survival. It was 10 years ago; Karel, Martha, and I decided it was time to quit flog- When we started, I thought, everyone ging the dead horse and do it (Easter should experience BLAST. Now, if we NICE COMPLIMENT...for SOCIALS Camp) ourselves. I remember writing only have 30-40 people find BLISS, Nice compliment for SOCIALS toto Bobbi Hoadly and the board saying, That’s good enough. From that, we day! I got a call from the director at “I’ve got the ball and I’m running with have created another amazing event, Britannia Lodge regarding Hilario. it. I don’t care which way we go, but that is no work for anyone. October He came from hospital and been with we’ll make something happen.”...and 15th, we had 18 people show up for them over a year. He told me his we did. dinner, for no good reason than to enjoy stroke was 2 years ago. BLAST surpassed our dreams in so each other’s company. All I can say is, He’s a quiet guy from Cuba. It was many ways. Of course, convincing it’s a BLAST!.. and already 10 registrahard to know if he was aphasic, Margaret Hansen to come on board tions for 2019. So, get your name on the spoke English, or just quiet. My imand host the weekend made it fool- list. If you’re reading this online, click: Us>> Or go to pression is he understands, but slow proof. We were all so happy to be <<Contact TurtleTalk.ca and you’ll see it on the to process. I was asking him if I there. It was magical. could walk home with him instead of top right corner. 2011 was bittersweet for me. I worked waiting for Handy Dart. We’d have so hard and had to learn to use the Things have picked up for SOCIALS to know ahead of time so we could computer to do everything, right down (Survivors Offering Camaraderie In cancel his ‘Dart. Lots of pauses, then to name tags. It was all new to me. Active Living Support) at Co:Here. It’s finally he quietly blurts out, “Let me Well, good thing, I know I’m a turle a changed group since the move. We’re think about it” and grins. and we spent 2 years planning from beginning to make plans for our ChristAnyway, the call today was to make our TurtleTalk Google’s group. Good mas Party. Mark your calendars. It will sure he can keep going; she said it’s Friday, April 22nd, 2011 was the best be December the 8th, noon to 3-ish pm really good what we’re doing. and worse day of my life. I didn’t at 1723 Victoria Drive, Vancouver. They’ve been seeing a change in him know I was going to make it to RSVP, we may only have space for 50. and last week he came back talking to Squamish. My Mom died Apreil 21st. Upcoming dates: everyone. Almost like she wanted to make sure I Thursday, November 1, 8, 15, 22, Kudos to all the SOCIALS went. Maybe that’s why the BLAST 29, 10 am-2 pm at Co: Here. (Survivors Offering Camaraderie In Family is so dear to me. The love from everyone “Building Life After Stroke To- November 15th, 5 pm, dinner at Active Living Support) at Co:Here. Trocaderos, 2411 Nanaimo, Van- Good job! Next time I’ll say, “Don’t gether” pulled me through. Mom sure couver. tell me, tell SRABC/MODC.” made me stronger to get through that weekend. November 30, 2018—Deadline for —Deb Here we are, still riding on the love of BLAST. If only we could Healthcare,
BLAST EarlyBirds.
Christmas Party 2018 —Dec. 8th Page 4
Vol. 17, Issue 213
October 2018
JOKES THIRTEEN!... jokeonli
A man is walking by an insane asylum and hears all the residents chanting, “Thirteen! Thirteen! Thirteen!” Being curious about all this, he finds a hole in the fence. When he looks in, someone pokes him in the eyes. And, then everyone in the asylum changes their chant, “Fourteen! Fourteen! Fourteen!” FUNNY SENSE, GOD IS ...Jokeonli
God is good, and all good things come from God...even the funny stuff. That’s why it’s real easy to see that God has a funny sense of humor! He tells us in Ecclesiastes that “to everything there is a season,” and there is A Time to Laugh! Read stories that demonstrate God’s sense of humor. And, BTW, “I love asking kids what they want to be when they grow up, , because I’m still looking for answers.” DO NOT PARK HERE ...Jokeonli
The wrath of the ancients will fall upon your head. Your shoelaces will not stay tied. Rabid squirrels will invade your home. Food in your refrigerator will mysteriously spoil. Your vehicle will start making that expensive knocking sound again and No-one will talk to you at parties! TOOL RULES ...Jokeonli
DON’T:
Touch ‘em
Borrow ‘em Move ‘em Don’t even look at ‘em
4 STAGES OF LIFE..Jokeonly
You believe in Santa Claus
You don’t believe in Santa Claus
You are Santa Claus
You look like Santa Claus
In about an hour, he was back at the shop again and said, “We’re going to need all the ice picks you’ve got.” The shop owner couldn’t believe it. “By the way,” he asked, “how are you fellows doing?” “Not very well at all,” he said. “We don’t even have the stupid boat in the water yet.”
COMMON SENSE...Jokeonly?
ICE FISHERMAN’S SECRET…
‘Common Sense’ has become an endangered species. Stupidity and selfishness have overtaken the world, and there’s no known cure…
Billy Bob and Jethro decide to go ice fishing. After arriving at the lake early in the morning, they cut two holes in the lakes and drop their lines in the water.
ICE FISHING...Jokeonly
There were two good ol’ boys from southern Georgia who just loved to fish. They wanted to do some ice fishing that they’d heard about in Canada, so they took off to try it. The lake was frozen nicely, so they stopped just before they got to the lake at a bait shop and got all their bait and tackle. Bubba Joe said, “We’re going to need an ice pick.” After they got their equipment, they took off. In about two hours, Bubba was back at the shop and said, “We’re going to need another dozen ice picks.” He sold him the picks, and the good ol’ boy left.
After fishing for a few hours, Billy Bob has caught dozens of fish while Jethro hasn’t even gotten a bite. Jethro asks, “Billy Bob, what’s your secret?” Billy Bob answers, “Mmu motta meep da mmms mmm.” Jethro asks, “What did you say?” Billy Bob answers, “Mmu motta meep da mmms mmm.” Jethro again asks, “ What?” Billy Bob spits into his hands and says, “You gotta keep the worms warm!” K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut) This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble. Page 5